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Senior Citizen Low Vision Sufferers Regaining Sight

September 30, 2009, Sarasota, Florida - Know someone "up there" in age who has difficulty reading the newspaper, writing checks, counting money or maneuvering a set of stairs? What most Americans don't know is that the leading cause of this "functional loss" is a disease called Age Related Macular Degeneration, or AMD. AMD falls into a broad category of eye diseases classified as "Low Vision".

26% of seniors over 70 suffer from AMD. AMD strikes a new person every 3 minutes and is a leading cause of falls, fractures and even depression among seniors. Overall, low vision diseases are the third greatest cause of debilitation among senior citizens behind only heart disease and arthritis.

Low vision, by definition, is not curable by surgery, medication or corrective lenses. Moreover, it becomes progressively worse with age. For many seniors, walking safely, cooking and even watching TV have become nightmarish challenges.

Until now, those who suffer from low vision, including and especially Macular degeneration had few options for relief. In some cases, low vision optometrists are able to design customized lenses, which enhance visual acuity. In most cases, these lenses cost thousands of dollars and are not covered by Medicare or other insurances.

Recently, a growing number of Medicare home health agencies have started to offer a form of low vision relief called "home modification". This remedy consists of trying to adapt the home environment to become more "low vision friendly". A wide range of techniques ranging from the use of larger font clocks and magnifiers to use of "high contrast" markings to distinguish on/off switches on lights and appliances can be employed. These and other creative adaptations can help increase functionality, despite progressively worsening visual deficits.

However, while home modification can assist with functionality, it cannot restore vision. Most AMD sufferers ultimately reach the point where they hear the dreaded words, "there's nothing more that can be done."

Now, for the first time in your area, there is something that can be done. A new option now exists for those with Macular degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Glaucoma and other low vision disabilities. It is called VISUAL RETRAINING.

Visual retraining recognizes that, although diseases like Macular degeneration damage the central portion of the macula, there remain other "healthy" areas, where detail vision is still possible. Through scientific testing, these "healthy" areas can be located and the eye trained to use them.

Here is a typical example:
Frances is 78 years old and suffers from acute Macular degeneration. Before her visual retraining treatment was completed on October 30th, vision in her better eye was 20/600 with magnification. Now it is 20/160, a 73% improvement. Her reading speed has increased from 10 minutes to 6 and accuracy has improved by almost 50%.

Frances' results are not the exception. The average increase in visual acuity, using visual retraining in combination with home modification, is 40-60%. Reading speed and accuracy improve equally dramatically. Patient independence and safety climb proportionately.
And there is more good news. Not only does visual retraining work, but it can be completed in only 8 weeks entirely within the home. And Medicare pays 100% for those who qualify.

The Low Vision Works program is a uniquely effective low vision treatment, which incorporates visual retraining with home adaptation, to produce dramatic increases in visual acuity, reading speed and accuracy and overall functional independence. It is designed specifically to help those who suffer from Macular degeneration. And it is 100% covered by Medicare for those eligible.